Master organic mechanisms with an arrows-first approach

Curly arrow notation is central to mechanistic organic chemistry, helping students visualise electron movement and predict reaction outcomes. The arrows-first approach introduces curly arrow notation as a general framework for understanding how and why electrons move, teaching mechanisms as transferable principles. A 2025 study explored how mechanistic teaching is structured in England’s A-level curriculum. The researchers found that while the curriculum formally supports an arrows-first approach, most classroom practice, assessments and resources default to a memorisation approach. Discover how to make an arrows-first approach work with your post-16 classes, with teaching tips and suggestions for further reading.